LeBron James didn't like how Harrison Barnes trade went down

Dirk Nowitzkisaid following the 99-93 Dallas win that he only learned of the trade after looking toward the Mavericks' bench in the fourth quarter and wondering why Barnes wasn't substituting into the game for him.

James said he wasn't "knocking" the Mavs for doing "what you feel [is] best", but he wanted to make a point that if teams can take that approach with players, then the reverse ought to be acceptable, as well. "Everybody else would have bounced out". He's just a generally good dude. "I got word of it during the game and so that is why he didn't play down the stretch, obviously".

LeBron James unloaded on the hypocrisy of National Basketball Association trades via an Instagram post on Wednesday.

James went on to write that he saw a double standard with how people react to players changing teams in free agency or requesting trades - often calling them selfish - compared to their reactions when franchises ship out their own players.

"But I just want this narrative to start to get REAL/CHANGE and not when a player wants to be traded or leaves a Franchise that he's a selfish/ungrateful player but when they trade you, release, waive, cut etc etc it's best for them!"

Anthony Davis is now trying to get out of the New Orleans Pelicans with 18 months left on his deal, with James's Los Angeles Lakers bidding hard for the All-Star.

The Sacramento Kings have had an active night before the National Basketball Association trade deadline arrives on Thursday afternoon.

Barnes left the American Airlines Center without talking to the media but did post on social media later Wednesday. "I'm going to miss him an very bad lot". I think everybody knows how close we were. He has a $25 million player option for 2019-20, which the Mavericks could have been okay with eating and moving into contention after his deal expires.

Barnes is averaging 17.8 points and 4.3 rebounds this season. I figured it's about time for Harrison to step in for me now.

Sacramento opened its trade season by dealing Iman Shumpert to Houston in a three-team deal that netted them Alec Burks, but Vlade Divac was not done bolstering their wing rotation.